October 18, 2026
Barbed Wounds
Lead with kindness, listen with grace
By Zoya Hasan
THEY WARN OF HER:
Her tongue afoul
Words so putrid
That strike lashes of
Barbed wires
Cutting those daring
To enter
—
SEE HER CASTLE:
Brims with malice
Walls that tower
Stones that cut
Casting shadows
Heavy with decay
Windows guarded
Empty and full.
—
DON'T THEY SEE?
Her words of irony
How barbed wires
Cut her too
Fearing poison
That are tears
That acid dripping
Down her cheeks
But wounds do not
Undo wounds she wrought
So her hands fall into
Endless loops
Laying bricks
Till' no sun
Sees through
—
But remember
How the moon
Shines silver
On softened stone
Even barbed wounds
Can start anew.